With Atrios on this one!
We could learn something from the past about the stupidity of war, particularly given the pointless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now being fought so that we might be free to cower in our beds at the thought of fifth-rate religious fanatics…
Gorilla says: “Surely you jest! That’s more or less like expecting us to learn something from the past about the horrors of oil drilling!”
More magical thinking from Euroland, the Home Of Really Stupid Central Bankers:
Bank of Italy Governor Draghi: “Purchases will have to be discontinued as quickly as possible, as soon as the markets spontaneously resume trading of the securities of the countries involved.”
Gorilla translates: “Austerity…growth!”
The Israelis, who clearly aren’t serious about peace but are serious about their blockade of Gaza, or the pro-Palestinian “aid flotilla”, who got themselves shot up as a reward for staging a cheap media stunt?
With a dozen or so dead, and several dozen wounded, it’s hard to figure out what the point of this nonsense is.
Israel’s Prime Minister seems determined to bury his head and his country as deep into the sand as possible. He has few friends internationally, and his most loyal ally is desperately trying to get him to a bargaining table he has never supported in his entire political career.
The Palestinians get lots of international sympathy, but they are bitterly divided. A referendum to make up their minds once and for all would be useful, but of course Hamas might win.
Gorilla says: “Sounds like a case for Kurt Wallender, but that’s not real life!”
He said that for an export-orientated country like Germany, it was sometimes necessary to deploy troops “to protect our interests… for example free trade routes”.
Of course, he’s right. Without the free trade routes that enable Afghanistan to supply 90% of the world’s opiates, where would the Taliban be?
Gorilla explains: “You can’t become a monopolist without capturing a few counterinsurgency strategies!”
Gorilla’s Blog